New Balance Apparel

With autumn and winter just around the corner (sorry to point that out) we look at some of the latest apparel from New Balance…

Men’s N Transit Quarter Zip

There’s good attention to detail – and more than a dash of style – on offer for just £45. The N Transit works well either as an outer layer or directly against the skin with a fast wicking polyester and spandex mix (87%/13%) that articulated really well on the run. The seams on the arms, although flat and perfectly comfortable, felt slightly over-engineered – as though more for aesthetic show than practicality – but we loved the thumb loops, overall look and level of comfort. Given the ‘Athletic Grey’ colour all-but disappears in low light the N Transit could certainly do with more reflectives than the small logo on the chest. That aside, a solid option as we move towards cooler weather.

From the warming hug of the New Balance N Transit to the stripped-back, bare-necessities of the Ice Singlet… Using a sweat-activated technology that cools you when things get hot (even useful in winter) this is a singlet for runners who really like to keep things minimalist, yet still want attention to detail and outstanding comfort. The armholes are generously cut – but don’t sag – the rear hem is ‘dropped’, the overall cut and style impressed, and the amount of reflective detailing is far better judged than with the N Transit. It takes a certain kind of runner to rock the singlet look, but if that’s you then the NB Ice Singlet, at a mere £25, is certainly worth considering.

As the name suggests – and our testing confirmed – these 5” track shorts from New Balance take the shorter distances in their stride, but we’d definitely leave it to the likes of the Impact 7 Inch 2-in-1 Short for longer, trail runs. The Impact 5” are surprisingly spacious, though far from baggy, for track shorts with a minimalist notch to the hem that helped freedom of movement and added to the overall comfort. The meshed inner felt slightly over-constructed – though more than comfortable for shorter runs – but the waistband sat happily and the zipped pocket (rear, side) was ample for stashing a gel or bar. Reflective detailing is at an absolute minimum again here and we’d really love to see more on apparel designed for autumn/winter even when branded for track. £35 seems bang on the money though…

A variation on the Ice available for men, the women’s Ice Short Sleeve is, of course, perfect year round but makes for a great base when the weather turns cooler. Using the NB ICE tech for sweat-activated cooling, the T breathes well and wicks quickly and the fit and cut are well judged and comfortable in the extreme. Large swathes of mesh make up much of the back and sides for extra ventilation, aided further by a rear vent. There’s UV protection on offer (like we said, perfect year round), whilst other niceties include a headphones cable guide and amble reflective detailing, particularly to the rear where it often matters most. £30 buys you a lot of running t-shirt with the New Balance Ice Short Sleeve.

The New Balance Impact Capris are certainly looking good for the coming, cooler months with a soft, plush feel and a perfect thickness that will keep the cold in check. The 12% Spandex blend moves beautifully on the run, hugging rather than squeezing, whilst the wide 2-inch waistband (with draw cord) was exceptionally comfortable. The zipped pocket to the side rear is unfortunately only big enough for keys or change, whilst an integrated pocket in that extra-wide waistband might have been a better design option for tucking away energy bars. There’s generous reflective trim – always good to see on autumn/winter apparel – but a little more to the rear would have been better still. Overall the New Balance Impact Capris are a really solid choice for the winter running wardrobe and the £38 price tag seems dead on the money.

The Performance Merino Half Zip is one of our favourite items from the autumn/winter New Balance range. At £65 it’s not cheap, but for the quality on offer it’s great value for money given that it will see you clear through all but the bitterest of winters. The 65% wool blend feels great against the skin but added as a layer it really comes into its own with comfortable raglan cut sleeves and low-profile seams all adding to the comfort. The cut – described as ‘athletic fit’ – moves really well and thumb-loops stop the sleeves from riding up. Reflective detailing is limited to the top front but that’s better than nothing…